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 March 23, 2008 Pastor's Perspective“This is the day the Lord has made . . . let us rejoice and be glad.”On Easter Sunday Mary of Magdala arises early on the “first day of the week” to go to Jesus’ tomb! What does she see? Merely that the stone is rolled away from the entrance. The Gospel doesn’t tell us that she went into the tomb and looked around. Rather, she immediately runs to the disciples and reports that Jesus’ body has been taken. Peter and the Beloved Disciple go to the tomb – not taking their time, but running. They see the carefully laid out burial cloths. The response of the Beloved Disciple is eventually the response of all: “he saw and believed.”Every Mass on Easter Sunday includes a renewal of baptismal promises. With these promises we not only renew our willingness to reject evil and believe in our triune God but also renew our commitment to be faithful disciples of Jesus, the risen One. In the introduction, the presider reminds us that “we have been buried with Christ in baptism, so that we may rise with him to new life.” This invitation and expression of baptismal reality identifies us with both the suffering Jesus and the risen Christ. The renewal of these promises is a renewal of our own efforts to live as servants so that others can experience the good and blessings God has in store for them. This is no rote ritual; it is a powerful expression of our willingness to “see and believe.” The real Good News of Easter is the promise that we who are baptized will one day share in His risen life. This is indeed “the day the Lord has made . . . We are an Easter People called to rejoice and be glad. Easter Peace, Fr. Chuck
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